“For this purpose, there will be no need for people to obtain and produce a permit in order to cross provincial, metropolitan or district boundaries.”
Any person who was not at their place of residence, or work before the lockdown period and needs to return home can do so – but only until May 7. This was stated by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, in a statement issued on Friday morning.
Dlamini Zulu said those who could not travel between provinces, metropolitan and district areas during the lockdown, would be permitted, on a once-off basis, to return to their places of residence or work and will be required to stay in such place until the end to the Alert Level 4.
The purpose of the directions is to regulate the once-off movement of persons who were not at their place of residence or work before the lockdown period and who could not travel between provinces, metropolitan and district areas during the lockdown, and are permitted in terms of regulation 16(5), on a once-off basis, to return to their places of residence or work.
“People who wish to make use of the provision in terms of regulation are permitted to do so during the period 1 May 2020 to 7 May 2020,” Dlamini Zuma said.
“For this purpose, there will be no need for people to obtain and produce a permit in order to cross provincial, metropolitan or district boundaries.”
She warned that security structures would, however, put measures in place to ensure those who make use of the window would do so once-off, and one-way only.
The Minister urged all South Africans to recognise the unprecedented crisis facing the country due to COVID-19 and to use the opportunity provided for once off travel responsibly by still adhering to the lockdown regulations.